After the slow waltz of the first 30 hours, the fleet is now quick-stepping at an average of 14 knots in the south Atlantic on Leg 6 from Rio to Boston.
The excesses of the Rio stopover are forgotten as the crews slip back into the old routine of watch systems and freeze-dried food. And the 2-4 knots and lumpy swell which blighted their departure have given way to the south-east trades.
Next target is the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha 1,000 nautical miles away. The tempo is rising.
Ericsson 4’s Media Crew Member, Guy Salter, is relishing the lift in the pace of life on board. "Its nice to have the wind again as the inside of the boat is stacked nicely as is the windward rail,” he wrote.
“We are ploughing along now at what seems to be break neck speeds (or at least after the first 28 hours). Fourteen knots seems like potential passing out/nose bleed speed compared to the first few days.
"Torben (Grael) commented yesterday evening that he had once sailed the 72 miles from Cabo Frio to Rio in a Star in a lot less time than it had taken us – his day-boat madness had only taken 12 hours and all that the rest of us could think of is why didn’t he just put the boat on its trailer and drive it back.
"Meanwhile, we are starting to settle back into the routines onboard. To be honest, the boat routine is normal, on land is the oddity as our time ashore in the last few months has been comfortably in the minority.”
By the 16:00 GMT Position Report, the fleet was hunting in packs. Offshore, the hares are Telefonica Blue and a rejuvenated Delta Lloyd (+19 Distance To Leader).
Running with the hounds inshore are third-placed Ericsson 4 (+24), sister ship Ericsson 3 (+26) fourth, PUMA (+27), Telefonica Black (+29) fifth and sixth respectively. Furthest east is Green Dragon (+38) bringing up the rear.
On Telefonica Blue, they are feeling groovy, or at least trying to, says Simon Fisher. “Although the wind has filled in somewhat and we are no longer drifting around it is shifty and gusty meaning that we have to work hard to keep the boat in the groove,” he said.
"Tactically things are working out OK. The pack behind have been playing a little cat and mouse with each other forcing them to go lower and faster, which for now has played into our hands as we remain happy with our windward position on the fleet.
"It is now a case of making subtle changes to our course to defend our position and hopefully maximize the opportunities to extend when they present themselves.”
Navigator-for-hire Wouter Verbraak, who started out on Team Russia, had a loan spell on Green Dragon as is now back aboard Delta Lloyd’s first generation Volvo Open 70, explained the team’s strategy thus … “Before the leg start we have divided the leg up into different races. Each race has it’s own goal and strategy, and gives us something to focus on,” he said.
"The first race from Rio to Cabo Frio on the SE tip of Brazil is now firmly behind us, and it is with a sigh of relieve that we are starting race two. Speed, speed, speed is our goal to the race two finish line at the first waypoint (Fernando).
"No big moves to be made, just focus on the boat speed. With the breeze varying between 12 and 16 knots and oscillating in direction as well, the grinding of the mainsheet is a constant. Even though we are not making top speeds, the progress towards the mark is good as we only need to get a bit more offshore.
"At the same time we all realize that there is no rest for the wicked as the more powerful new generation boats will soon be breathing down our neck.”